Establishment and Validation of Prognostic Nomograms for Nonmetastatic Melanoma of the Limbs-A SEER-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Malignant melanoma, a highly aggressive skin cancer, has remarkable incidence and mortality nowadays. This study aims to explore prognostic factors associated with nonmetastatic cutaneous melanoma of the limbs and to develop nomograms for predicting overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). METHODS: The study cohort was derived from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Univariate Cox regression, Lasso regression, and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to identify prognostic factors and construct nomograms. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, time-dependent C-index, calibration curve, decision curve analysis (DCA) and Kaplan-Meier method were used to evaluate the accuracy and clinical applicability of the nomograms. RESULTS: A total of 15,606 patients were enrolled. Multivariate analysis identified several prognostic factors for OS and CSS including age, sex, histologic type, N stage, tumor thickness, depth of invasion, mitotic rate, ulceration, surgery of primary site, systemic therapy, race, and number of lymph nodes examined. A nomogram incorporating 12 independent predictors for OS was developed, with a C-index of 0.866 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.858-0.874) in the training cohort and 0.853 (95% CI: 0.839-0.867) in validation. For CSS, 10 independent predictors and one related factor were included, yielding a C-index of 0.913 (95% CI: 0.903-0.923) in the training cohort and 0.922 (95% CI: 0.908-0.936) in validation. The ROC curve, time-dependent C-index, calibration curve, DCA, and K-M plot demonstrated favorable discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility. CONCLUSION: The developed nomograms provide a precise and personalized predictive tool for risk management of patients with nonmetastatic limb melanoma.

A leucine-rich-repeat receptor-like kinase regulates pollen aperture formation in rice.

Apertures in pollen grains exhibit species-specific patterns and provide an ideal model for studying cell-surface patterning. Pollen apertures are critical for cereal crop fertility, and while DEFECTIVE IN APERTURE FORMATION1 (OsDAF1) and INAPERTURATE POLLEN1 (OsINP1) have been documented to participate in pollen aperture formation in rice (Oryza sativa), the molecular transduction pathway regulating aperture formation is largely unknown. Here, we report that a leucine-rich-repeat receptor-like kinase (LRR-RLK), AM1, plays a key role in rice pollen aperture formation. Mutations of OsAM1 lead to complete sterility due to disappearance of the pollen aperture and failure in pollen tube germination. OsAM1 encodes a LRR-RLK that belongs to the STRUBBELIG-receptor family. Similar to other reported aperture regulators, OsAM1 assembles to future aperture sites on tetrads after meiosis to regulate aperture formation. The extracellular and intracellular domain of OsAM1 interacts with OsINP1 and OsDAF1, respectively. However, despite their interaction and the absence of aperture formation in osam1 pollen grains, OsINP1 and OsDAF1 localize to future aperture sites at the tetrad stage. Mutation of OsINP1, however, disrupts normal localization of OsAM1, indicating that OsAM1 acts downstream of OsINP1. Our findings reveal the role of a LRR-RLK protein in pollen aperture formation and shed light on the regulatory network of pollen aperture formation.

Step-cut osteotomy for cubitus varus deformity with application of patient-specific instrument in children: a preliminary report.

PURPOSE: The step-cut osteotomy has been recognized as a valuable approach for addressing cubitus varus deformity, albeit one that necessitates technical proficiency. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the modified step-cut osteotomy technique in conjunction with patient-specific instruments by clinical and radiological assessment. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients who underwent modified step-cut osteotomy with the use of patient-specific instruments in conjunction with Kirschner wires fixation for the correction of cubitus varus deformity between April 2016 and April 2022. Follow-up was performed for a minimum of two years, during which pre-operative and post-operative clinical and radiological parameters were compared. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were enrolled in this study. The mean pre-operative humeral-elbow-wrist (HEW) of the affected side was -21.7° (ranging from -14° to -34°), while the normal side was 9.4° (ranging from 5° to 15°). The post-operation HEW of affected side was 9° (ranging from 4° to 16°). There was no significant difference between the normal side and affected side after operation (p = 0.74). Pre-operative range of motion in the affected side was 130°, while the post-operative range of motion was 132°. Fourteen patients (93.3%) were pleased with the overall appearance of their elbow. None lazy-S deformity was observed in these cases. There were no major complications. CONCLUSION: The modified step-cut osteotomy technique, utilizing patient-specific instrument in conjunction with Kirschner wires fixation was found to be a safe, reliable, and technically easy procedure for correcting cubitus varus deformity.

Characterizing nitrogen deposited on urban road surfaces: Implication for stormwater runoff pollution control.

Nitrogen (N) is one of the most important pollutants on urban road surfaces. Understanding the N deposition forms, load characteristics, and influential factors can help to provide management and control strategies for road stormwater runoff pollution. This study focuses on a highly urbanized area in Guangzhou, China, and presents the characteristics of both dissolved and particulate N deposition forms as well as their correlations with land-use types and traffic factors. In addition, an artificial neural network (ANN) based classification model is utilized to estimate N pollution hotspot area and total nitrogen (TN) flux from road to receiving water bodies. The results showed that N on urban road surfaces mainly existed in the form of particulate organic nitrogen. Land use types dominated by residential area (RA) and urban village (UV) have higher TN build-up loads. Geodetector analysis indicated that land use has a greater impact on nitrogen build-up loads than traffic factors. Through classification and estimation using the ANN model, RA, and UV were classified as hotspot areas, and the TN flux from roads in the study area was calculated to be 3.35 × 105 g. Furthermore, it was estimated that the annual TN flux from roads in Guangzhou accounts for 19 % of the city's total urban domestic discharge. These findings are expected to contribute to the pollution control of stormwater runoff from urban road surfaces and provide valuable guidance for enhancing the ecological health of urban water environments.

Body fat percentage vs body mass index in estimating basal cell carcinoma.

Background: The role of body mass index (BMI) in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) risk remains controversial, and limited information is available regarding the relationship between other physical measurements and BCC. Several recent studies have found a positive effect of adiposity on improved survival when obesity was determined solely by BMI (the "obesity paradox"). We hypothesize that body fat percentage (BFP) may serve as a more sensitive risk factor for BCC than BMI. Methods: The study conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data from two distinct centers in China. Individual patient-level data were obtained from medical record reviews spanning January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2022. Associations with outcomes were analyzed using univariate and stratified analyses and assessed using multiple logistic regression with adjustment for confounding factors. Additionally, we performed a meta-analysis to further test the observations in our study. Results: A total of 337 patients, ranging in age from 50 to 91 years, with a mean age of 66.88 (standard deviation 10.16), were included. We observed no significant association between BMI and BCC after adjusting for confounders (OR: 0.71, 95 % CI: 0.36-1.40, P = 0.3186). There was also no convincing effect in a meta-analysis (n = 158,741) (OR: 0.99, 95 % CI: 0.93-1.06, P = 0.8). Furthermore, BFP was found to be associated with BCC (OR: 2.64, 95 % CI: 1.17-5.97, P = 0.0196), supported by strong clinical evidence. Conclusions: Our study supports the hypothesis that BFP is superior to BMI in assessing BCC risk. Multiple logistic regression analyses, coupled with meta-analysis, provided robust evidence that BFP is a sensitive risk factor for BCC, while BMI appears unrelated to risk. According to these findings, routine healthcare practices could benefit from utilizing BFP measurements. The reduction of body fat percentage in low-fat diets may be beneficial for adjuvant treatment of BCC.

Effects of aeration control strategies on nitrous oxide emissions in alternating anoxic-oxic sequencing batch reactor systems.

Reducing N2O emissions is key to controlling greenhouse gases (GHG) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Although studies have examined the effects of dissolved oxygen (DO) on N2O emissions during nitrogen removal, the precise effects of aeration rate remain unclear. This study aimed to fill this research gap by investigating the influence of dynamic aeration rates on N2O emissions in an alternating anoxic-oxic sequencing batch reactor system. The emergence of DO breakthrough points indicated that the conversion of ammonia nitrogen to nitrite and the release of N2O were nearly complete. Approximately 91.73 ± 3.35% of N2O was released between the start of aeration and the DO breakthrough point. Compared to a fixed aeration rate, dynamically adjusting the aeration rates could reduce N2O production by up to 48.6%. Structural equation modeling revealed that aeration rate and total nitrogen directly or indirectly had significant effects on the N2O production. A novel regression model was developed to estimate N2O production based on energy consumption (aeration flux), water quality (total nitrogen), and GHG emissions (N2O). This study emphasizes the potential of optimizing aeration strategies in WWTPs to significantly reduce GHG and improve environmental sustainability.

Chemsex as lines of flight? Critical Deleuzean perspectives on chemical intimacies.

BACKGROUND: Public health scholars informed by a dominant biomedical paradigm have in their 'rush to risk' emphasised the problematic aspects of chemsex. Meanwhile, critical chemsex scholars have attemped to destigmatise such sexual-chemical practices and foreground how they can be transformative. Taking these two perspectives as points of departure, we make a case for understanding chemsex vis-à-vis Deleuzean lines of flight. METHODS: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 33 purposively sampled sexual minority men seeking therapy for chemsex dependency in Singapore. Interview topics included participants' experiences and histories of chemsex, substance use, and their ongoing recovery. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and then analysed according to key themes. RESULTS: We illustrate how chemically inflected sexual encounters can offer deterritorialising flights of fantasy and freedom from a heteronormative social structure that pathologises gay sex. At the same time, we argue that these flight lines are not static, neither do they extend indefinitely in space-time. Rather, we show how flights of freedom can evolve into lines of fright (or non-flight) when chemsex practitioners are met with critical thresholds that reveal the less-than-desirable aspects of being intoxicated. Consequently, they may eventually consider the reterritorialisation of their lives (i.e. abstinence and recovery) as a more constructive option. Regardless of their decisions to ride on chemically-induced flight lines or to take a step back from such deterritorialising pathways, they have troubled stereotypical perspectives of drug users as passive automatons. CONCLUSIONS: This paper enriches the chemsex scholarship by presenting a Deleuzean conceptualisation of chemical-sexual intimacies without romantacising and/or overstating the 'escape'/'freedom' that chemsex can facilitate. Future research in this arena could explore the complicated intimate relationships that users may have with their drug(s) of choice, and their varied lines of (non-)flight over a longitudinal study.

FOXO-regulated DEAF1 controls muscle regeneration through autophagy.

The commonality between various muscle diseases is the loss of muscle mass, function, and regeneration, which severely restricts mobility and impairs the quality of life. With muscle stem cells (MuSCs) playing a key role in facilitating muscle repair, targeting regulators of muscle regeneration has been shown to be a promising therapeutic approach to repair muscles. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms driving muscle regeneration are complex and poorly understood. Here, we identified a new regulator of muscle regeneration, Deaf1 (Deformed epidermal autoregulatory factor-1) - a transcriptional factor downstream of foxo signaling. We showed that Deaf1 is transcriptionally repressed by FOXOs and that DEAF1 targets to Pik3c3 and Atg16l1 promoter regions and suppresses their expression. Deaf1 depletion therefore induces macroautophagy/autophagy, which in turn blocks MuSC survival and differentiation. In contrast, Deaf1 overexpression inactivates autophagy in MuSCs, leading to increased protein aggregation and cell death. The fact that Deaf1 depletion and its overexpression both lead to defects in muscle regeneration highlights the importance of fine tuning DEAF1-regulated autophagy during muscle regeneration. We further showed that Deaf1 expression is altered in aging and cachectic MuSCs. Manipulation of Deaf1 expression can attenuate muscle atrophy and restore muscle regeneration in aged mice or mice with cachectic cancers. Together, our findings unveil an evolutionarily conserved role for DEAF1 in muscle regeneration, providing insights into the development of new therapeutic strategies against muscle atrophy.Abbreviations: DEAF1: Deformed epidermal autoregulatory factor-1; FOXO: Forkhead box O; MuSC: Muscle Stem Cell; PAX7: Paired box 7; PIK3C3: Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit type 3.

Cardiolipin oxidized by ROS from complex II acts as a target of gasdermin D to drive mitochondrial pore and heart dysfunction in endotoxemia.

Cardiac dysfunction, an early complication of endotoxemia, is the major cause of death in intensive care units. No specific therapy is available at present for this cardiac dysfunction. Here, we show that the N-terminal gasdermin D (GSDMD-N) initiates mitochondrial apoptotic pore and cardiac dysfunction by directly interacting with cardiolipin oxidized by complex II-generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) during endotoxemia. Caspase-4/11 initiates GSDMD-N pores that are subsequently amplified by the upregulation and activation of NLRP3 inflammation through further generation of ROS. GSDMD-N pores form prior to BAX and VDAC1 apoptotic pores and further incorporate into BAX and VDAC1 oligomers within mitochondria membranes to exacerbate the apoptotic process. Our findings identify oxidized cardiolipin as the definitive target of GSDMD-N in mitochondria of cardiomyocytes during endotoxin-induced myocardial dysfunction (EIMD), and modulation of cardiolipin oxidation could be a therapeutic target early in the disease process to prevent EIMD.

METTL3 promotes the osteogenic differentiation of periosteum-derived MSCs via regulation of the HOXD8/ITGA5 axis in congenital pseudarthrosis.

Background: Congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) is a dominant health challenge in pediatric orthopedics. The essential process in the development of CPT is the limited capacity of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from CPT to undergo osteogenic differentiation. Our research aimed to elucidate the role and mechanism of methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) in the osteogenic differentiation process of CPT MSCs. Methods: The osteogenic differentiation medium was used to culture MSCs, and the detection of osteogenic differentiation was performed using Alizarin Red S and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assays. Gene or protein expression was assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blot, or immunofluorescence (IF) staining. The m6A modification of Homeobox D8 (HOXD8) was verified by methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP) assay. Interactions between METTL3 and HOXD8 or HOXD8 and integrin alpha 5 (ITGA5) promoter were validated by the luciferase reporter gene, RIP, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. Results: METTL3 overexpression enhanced CPT MSCs' osteogenic differentiation. METTL3 stabilized the HOXD8 in an m6A-dependent manner. Moreover, the overexpressed ITGA5 up-regulated the CPT MSCs' osteogenic differentiation. Further, HOXD8 could transcriptionally activate ITGA5. METTL3 increased the transcription of ITGA5 via HOXD8 to enhance the osteogenic differentiation of CPT MSCs. Conclusion: METTL3 promoted osteogenic differentiation via modulating the HOXD8/ITGA5 axis in CPT MSCs.

Effect of hydrothermal-acid pretreatment on methane yield and microbial community in anaerobic digestion of rice straw.

Hydrothermal pretreatment has been proposed to enhance straw methane yield during anaerobic digestion recently. However, the combined effect of hydrothermal and organic acid pretreatment (HTOAP) needs further investigation. This study identified optimal pretreatment at 120 °C with 3 % acetic acid for 24 h by orthogonal design method. The HTOAP increased the reducing sugar content by destroying the lignocellulosic structure. A 79 % increment of methane production after HTOAP was observed compared to the untreated group. Microbial analysis showed that HTOAP enriched the relative abundance of lignocellulose-degraders, such as W5053, Thermanaerovibrio, Caldicoprobacter, as well as the syntrophic acetate oxidizing bacteria Syntrophaceticus. Moreover, Methanobacterium conducted hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis dominantly. Furthermore, the potential function analysis showed that HTOAP stimulated the expression of key enzymes in the hydrogenotrophic pathway, including carbon-monoxide dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.7.4) and coenzyme F420 hydrogenase (EC 1.12.98.1). This investigation illustrated the potential of HTOAP of rice straw to facilitate methane production.

Effects of carbon to nitrogen ratio on nitrogen removal in a single-stage microaerobic system: A model-based evaluation.

Single-stage microaerobic systems have been proven to be effective for concurrent removal of ammonium and organic carbon from sewage. While mechanistic models derived from activated sludge models (ASMs) have simulated nutrients removal under microaerobic conditions, classic ASMs exhibit limitations in capturing the intricate effects of carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio on nitrogen removal performance. To address this issue, a mechanistic model modified from the classic ASMs was proposed to capture the combined inhibitory effects of carbon and ammonium on microaerobic systems. This modified model was established based on experimental data from a single-stage microaerobic reactor encompassing simultaneous nitrification-denitrification and anammox processes. The inhibition coefficient of C/N ratio was integrated into the process rate equations, and its effectiveness was validated through model performance evaluation. Compared to the classic models, the modified one achieved superior predictions for nitrite and nitrate nitrogen concentrations. Simulations revealed that under optimized conditions with a C/N of 4.57 and a dissolved oxygen (DO) of 0.41 mg/L, the system could achieve up to 95.5% of total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency. Based on the simulation of substrate uptake/production rate, increasing the nitrogen loading rate (NLR) rather than organic loading rate (OLR) was crucial for efficient nitrogen removal. The proposed modified model served as a valuable tool for designing and optimizing similar biological wastewater treatment systems.

Biogeography and impact of nitrous oxide reducers in rivers across a broad environmental gradient on emission rates.

Microbial communities that reduce nitrous oxide (N2O) are divided into two clades, nosZI and nosZII. These clades significantly differ in their ecological niches and their implications for N2O emissions in terrestrial environments. However, our understanding of N2O reducers in aquatic systems is currently limited. This study investigated the relative abundance and diversity of nosZI- and nosZII-type N2O reducers in rivers and their impact on N2O emissions. Our findings revealed that stream sediments possess a high capacity for N2O reduction, surpassing N2O production under high N2O/NO3- ratio conditions. This study, along with others in freshwater systems, demonstrated that nosZI marginally dominates more often in rivers. While microbes containing either nosZI and nosZII were crucial in reducing N2O emissions, the net contribution of nosZII-containing microbes was more significant. This can be attributed to the nir gene co-occurring more frequently with the nosZI gene than with the nosZII gene. The diversity within each clade also played a role, with nosZII species being more likely to function as N2O sinks in streams with higher N2O concentrations. Overall, our findings provide a foundation for a better understanding of the biogeography of stream N2O reducers and their effects on N2O emissions.

Comparative study of different extendable intramedullary rods combined with surgery in the treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia.

BACKGROUND: When using traditional extensible intramedullary rods to treat congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT), there were cases of re-fracture and internal fixation fracture. Therefore, the authors propose a research hypothesis that a thicker distal extensible intramedullary rod can better protect the tibia and reduce the incidence of refracture PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical efficacy of new and traditional extensible intramedullary rods in the treatment of CPT in children METHODS: From January 2017 to December 2021, the clinical data of 49 children with CPT who were treated with traditional extensible intramedullary rod combined surgery (group A) and new extensible intramedullary rod combined surgery (group B) in our hospital were collected. Inclusive criteria: ① Crawford type IV CPT children; ② The operation was performed by the same team. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: patients with multiple tibial angulation. During follow-up, the initial healing, proximal tibial valgus, tibial length, ankle valgus, refracture and intramedullary rod displacement of CPT children in the two groups were evaluated RESULTS: It was a retrospective investigation. In group A, 26 cases met the inclusion criteria, 24 cases achieved primary healing, with an primary healing rate of 92%, including 1 case of nonunion due to osteomyelitis complications after surgery, and 1 case of delayed healing, with an average healing time of 4.7 ± 0.8 months. 17 cases (68%) had unequal tibia length, with an average difference of 1.6 ± 0.8 cm. Ankle valgus occurred in 10 cases (40%) with an average of 14.4°±4.8°; Proximal tibial valgus occurred in 6 cases (24%) with an average of 7 °± 1.8 °. 20 cases (80%) had tip of the rod migration.10 cases (40%) had re-fracture; The average follow-up time was 2.4 ± 0.4 years. In group B, 22 patients achieved primary healing, and the primary healing rate was 95%, including 1 case with delayed healing. The average healing time was 4.7 ± 1.7months. 14 cases (61%) had unequal tibia length, with an average difference of 1 ± 0.5 cm. Ankle valgus occurred in 4 cases (17%) with an average of 12.3 °±4.9°; The proximal tibia valgus occurred in 9 cases (39%), with an average of 7.7 °±2.5 °. 14 cases (61%) had new type of intramedullary rod displacement. 3 cases (13%) had re-fracture; The average follow-up time was 2.3 ± 0.6years CONCLUSION: Compared with the traditional extended intramedullary rod combined operation, the new type of extended intramedullary rod combined operation has a lower incidence of re-fracture after CPT, but it still needs to be verified by large sample and multi-center research.

Global trends and hotspots in research on acupuncture for neurodegenerative diseases over the last decade: a bibliometric and visualization analysis.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the current status and trends of acupuncture for neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) in the last decade and provide new insights for researchers in future studies. Methods: The publications concerning acupuncture treatment for NDs published between 2014 and 2023 were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection. We used CiteSpace and VOSviewer to analyze data on numbers of annual publications, countries, institutions, cited journals, cited authors, cited references, keywords, and citation bursts about acupuncture for NDs. Results: A total of 635 publications were obtained from 2014 to 2023. We identified the most prolific journals, countries, institutions, authors, patterns of authorship, and the main direction of future research in the field of acupuncture for NDs in the last decade. The country, institution, and journal with the most publications are China (389 articles), Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (56 articles), and Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (42 articles), respectively. The high-frequency keywords focused on "Alzheimer's disease," "Parkinson's disease," "acupuncture," "dementia," and "electroacupuncture." The top five keywords in terms of centrality were "cerebral ischemia," "acupuncture stimulation," "fMRI," "apoptosis," and "deep brain stimulation." Conclusion: The results from this bibliometric study provide insight into the research trends in acupuncture therapy for NDs, and the current status and trends of the past decade, which may help researchers confirm the current status, hotspots, and frontier trends in this field.

ggbulksurv: An R package for easy Drosophila and C. elegans survival analysis.

Lifespan studies on fast-aging model organisms like C.elegans and D.melanogaster are conducted with multiple organisms per vial. Lifespan data results in a "one row, multiple individuals" format, which is incompatible with R packages that require a "one row, one individual" format. We present ggbulksurv , an R package for user-friendly survival analysis and highlight three key features. (1) pivot_prism converts data for PRISM, allowing biologists to plot survival curves without manually expanding each observation. (2) run_bulksurv() takes in a "one row, multiple individuals" table and plots a customizable survival curve. (3) Advanced users who require custom survival objects can specify a custom formula, facilitating complex survival analysis. We provide a time saving solution for lifespan data analysis.

Resveratrol activates autophagy and protects from UVA-induced photoaging in human skin fibroblasts and the skin of male mice by regulating the AMPK pathway.

Skin photoaging is mostly caused by ultraviolet A (UVA), although active medications to effectively counteract UVA-induced photoaging have not yet been created. Resveratrol, a naturally occurring polyphenol found in the skin of grapes, has been shown to have various biological functions such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics. However, the role of resveratrol in UVA-induced photoaging has not been clarified. We investigated the mechanism of action of resveratrol by UVA irradiation of human skin fibroblasts (HSF) and innovatively modified a mouse model of photoaging. The results demonstrated that resveratrol promoted AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation to activate autophagy, reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, inhibit apoptosis, and restore normal cell cycle to alleviate UVA-induced photoaging. In addition, subcutaneous injection of resveratrol not only improved the symptoms of roughness, erythema, and increased wrinkles in the skin of UVA photodamaged mice, but also alleviated epidermal hyperkeratosis and hyperpigmentation, reduced inflammatory responses, and inhibited collagen fiber degradation. In conclusion, our studies proved that resveratrol can treat UVA-induced photoaging and elucidated the possible molecular mechanisms involved, providing a new therapeutic strategy for future anti-aging.

Application and effect of tension-reducing suture in surgical treatment of hypertrophic scar.

PURPOSE: To investigate the application and effectiveness of tension-reducing suture in the repair of hypertrophic scars. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of clinical data was conducted on 82 patients with hypertrophic scars treated at the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from September 2021 to December 2022. Patients were operated with combination of heart-shaped tension-reducing suturing technique and looped, broad, and deep buried (LBD) suturing technique or conventional suture method. Outcomes of surgical treatment were assessed before and 6 months after surgery using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) and the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). RESULTS: Improvements were achieved on scar quality compared to that preoperatively, with a reduction in scar width (1.7 ± 0.6 cm vs. 0.7 ± 0.2 cm, P < 0.001). Assessment using the POSAS and VSS scales showed significant improvements in each single parameter and total score compared to preoperative values (P < 0.05). The Combination method group achieved better score in total score of VSS scale, in color, stiffness, thickness and overall opinion of PSAS scale, and in vascularity, thickness, pliability and overall opinion of OSAS scale. CONCLUSION: The amalgamation of the heart-shaped tension-reducing suturing technique and the LBD suturing technique has shown promising outcomes, garnering notably high levels of patient satisfaction in the context of hypertrophic scar repair. Patients have exhibited favorable postoperative recoveries, underscoring the clinical merit and the prospective broader applicability of this approach in the realm of hypertrophic scar management.

Oncolytic virotherapy stimulates anti­tumor immune response and demonstrates activity in advanced sarcoma: Report of two cases.

Sarcoma is derived from mesenchymal neoplasms and has numerous subtypes, accounting for 1% of all adult malignancies and 15% of childhood malignancies. The prognosis of metastatic or recurrent sarcoma remains poor. The current study presents two cases of sarcoma enrolled in a phase I dose escalation trial for solid tumor, who had previously failed all standard therapies. These patients were treated with VG161, an immune-stimulating herpes simplex virus type 1 oncolytic virus with payloads of IL-12, IL-15 and IL-15 receptor α unit, and a programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/PD-1 ligand 1 blocking peptide. Both cases demonstrated stable disease as the best response, accompanied by a noteworthy prolongation of progression-free survival (11.8 months for chondrosarcoma and 11.9 months for soft tissue sarcoma, respectively) at a dose of 2.5×108 PFU/cycle. In addition, the treatment led to the activation of anti-cancer immunity, as evident from cytokine, lymphocyte subset and related pathway analyses of peripheral blood and/or tumor biopsy samples. These promising results suggest that VG161 monotherapy holds promise as an effective treatment for sarcoma and warrants further investigation through clinical trials. The two reported patients were part of a phase I clinical trial conducted and registered on the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry in Australia (registration no. ACTRN12620000244909; registration date, 26 February, 2020).